Calibrachoa plant named &#39;SAKCAL112&#39;

ABSTRACT

A  Calibrachoa  plant particularly distinguished by having a lavender flower color, large flower size and a compact plant growth habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Calibrachoa spp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘SAKCAL112’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofCalibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa spp., and referredto by the variety name ‘SAKCAL112’. ‘SAKCAL112’ originated from ahybridization made in 2008 in Kakegawa, Japan. The female parent was theproprietary hybrid Calibrachoa breeding line named ‘7-3B-1A’ and had alavender, pink and rose flower color, large flower size and a moundingplant growth habit. The male parent was the proprietary hybridCalibrachoa breeding line named ‘7B-16A-1’ characterized by its lavenderflower color, medium flower size and a compact plant growth habit.

In November 2008, the parental lines ‘7-3B-1A’ and ‘7B-16A-1’ werecrossed and 200 seeds were obtained. In February 2009, the F₁ seed wassown in the greenhouse, cultivated and plant lines were produced withflower colors of rose, pink and lavender with a mounding and creepingplant growth habit. In May 2009, four plant lines were selected withinthe F₁ plants that had lavender flowers and a compact plant growthhabit. In June 2009, the four plant lines were intercrossed and 2,500seeds were obtained from the group of F₂ plants.

In August 2009, 500 seeds were sown in the greenhouse, cultivated andplant lines were produced with flower colors of lavender with a moundingand compact plant growth habit. In November 2009, the line ‘K2010-062’was selected for its lavender flower color and compact plant growthhabit.

In February 2010, line ‘K2010-062’ was first vegetatively propagated,cultivated and evaluated. In April 2010, line ‘K2010-062’ was confirmedto be fixed and stable. In July 2010, line ‘K2010-062’ was propagatedand cultivated again to reconfirm the lines' stability. In November2010, the line was confirmed to be fixed and stable. The line wassubsequently named ‘SAKCAL112’ and its unique characteristics were foundto reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation via vegetative cuttings in Salinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

1. Lavender flower color;

2. Compact growth habit; and

3. Large flower size.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photographs are of a four-month-old plant grown in Salinas,Calif. under greenhouse conditions in the summer of 2013. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKCAL112’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. Data was collected on four-month-old plants grown undergreenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the summer of 2013. Colorreferences are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Botanical.—Calibrachoa spp.        -   Common.—Calibrachoa.        -   Designation.—‘SAKCAL112’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary hybrid Calibrachoa line ‘7-3B-1A’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Proprietary hybrid Calibrachoa line ‘7B-16A-1’            (unpatented).-   Growth:    -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks        -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0            to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.            The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of DIP ‘N GROW (1 solution: 9 water), a root            inducing solution, immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from            overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient            roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and            grown in 20-cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse            located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based            growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,            10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or            every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were            top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer containing            20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium. The typical            average air temperature was 24° C.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit and form.—Compact and branching.        -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—7.3 cm.        -   Spread.—24.0 cm.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as day length is            greater than 12 hours and temperature is above 13° C.        -   Temperature tolerances.—Excellent resistance to rain, heat,            and drought. Plants will not tolerate temperatures below 10°            C.-   Stems:    -   -   General description.—Circular in cross-section; dull in            appearance.        -   Stem length.—8.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Internode length (average).—2.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144B (Green).        -   Pubescence.—Slight; pubescence is RHS 155C (White).        -   Anthocyanin color.—Absent.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull.        -   Surface pubescence (both surfaces).—Slightly pubescent;            pubescence is RHS N155C (White).        -   Length.—3.2 cm.        -   Width.—1.2 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A (Yellow-Green) Lower surface:            RHS 137C (Yellow-Green).        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Petiole.—Absent; decurrent leaf attachment.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Solitary.        -   Flowering habit.—Indeterminate.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—10 weeks.        -   Total number of flowers.—Approximately 50.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—5 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Surface texture.—Pubescent.        -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—RHS 85A (Violet).-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—0.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 145A (Yellow-Green).        -   Surface appearance and texture.—Dull with heavy pubescence;            pubescence color is RHS N155C (White).-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Composed of five, fused petals to create a            funnel-shaped flower with five fissures and a shallow, yet            prominent, indentation of the petal tip at the midvein.        -   Flower diameter.—3.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—0.5 cm.        -   Petals.—Shape: Bilabiate Apex: Truncate Base: Fused Margin:            Entire Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous Length: 2.7            cm Width: 1.5 cm Color: Upper surface: Closest to RHS 82B            (Purple-Violet) Lower surface: Closest to RHS N82C            (Purple-Violet).        -   Corolla tube.—Length: 1.5 cm Diameter: 0.5 cm Color: Inner            surface: RHS 5A (Yellow) Outer surface: Closest to RHS 4B            (Yellow) with RHS 79A (Purple) veins.-   Calyx:    -   -   Arrangement.—Composed of 5 sepals, free.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptical Apex: Obtuse Margin: Entire Color            (both surfaces): RHS 137A (Green) Length: 1.0 cm Diameter:            0.2 cm.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—5.        -   Stamen color.—RHS 4B (Yellow).        -   Stamen form.—Free.        -   Stamen length.—1.0 cm.        -   Pollen color.—RHS 15A (Yellow).        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.        -   Ovary.—Superior.        -   Placental arrangement.—Central.        -   Pistil number.—1 (per inflorescence).        -   Pistil length.—0.9 cm.        -   Pistil color.—RHS 154C (Yellow-Green).        -   Stigma color.—RHS 154C (Yellow-Green).        -   Stigma length.—0.1 cm.        -   Style length.—0.8 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 145C (Yellow-Green).        -   Seed production.—Absent.-   Disease and insect resistance: Plants are susceptible to Botrytis,    powdery mildew, various stem and root rots, and certain viruses,    such as Tobacco Mosaic Virus and Impatiens Necrotic Spotted Virus.    Plants can be infested with aphids, leafminers, whitefly, and    various Lepidoptera.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKCAL112’ is a new and unique variety of Calibrachoa owing to itslavender flower color, large flower size and compact plant growth habit.‘SAKCAL112’ is distinguished from its parents as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent: Male parent:Characteristic ‘SAKCAL112’ ‘7-3B-1A’ ‘7B-16A-1’ Flower color LavenderLavender, Lavender Pink & Rose Flower size Large Large Medium Plantgrowth habit Compact Mounding Compact

‘SAKCAL112’ is a new and unique variety of Calibrachoa owing to itslavender flower color, compact growth habit and a large flower size.‘SAKCAL112’ is most similar to the commercial Calibrachoa variety‘SAKCAL106’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/815,966 filedMarch 19, 2013), commercially known as Calipetite® ‘Blue’; however thereare differences as described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKCAL112’‘SAKCAL106’ Flower petal color, RHS 82B RHS 83B (Purple) with uppersurface (Purple-Violet) RHS 77A (Purple) veins and RHS N77A (Purple) atmidvein Flower petal color, RHS N82C RHS 83C (Purple) with lower surface(Purple-Violet) RHS 77A (Purple) veins and RHS N77A (Purple) at midveinFlower size 3.5 cm 2.0 cm (diameter)

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa plant as shown anddescribed herein.